NPA Warns of Overlapping Mandates Jeopardizing Higher Education Quality

The National Planning Authority (NPA) has raised concerns that a lack of clarity and overlapping responsibilities between the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), the TVET regulator, and professional bodies could hinder the development and quality of higher education in Uganda. Mr. Joseph Muvawala, the NPA Executive Director, emphasized the need for harmonized regulation to define distinct roles and prevent regulatory confusion.

Speaking at the launch of the NCHE’s new five-year strategic plan, Mr. Muvawala highlighted instances where professional bodies are encroaching on the functions of universities and higher education regulators, such as accrediting academic programs. He stated that these overlaps could negatively impact universities’ capacity to deliver quality education and ultimately affect the nation’s human capital development.

Muvawala indicated that the NPA will issue an advisory to the Ministry of Education and Sports to address these regulatory gaps, particularly as the country implements new NCHE strategic instruments. This issue will be considered within broader legal reforms aimed at strengthening accountability in the higher education sector.

Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, echoed these sentiments, calling for greater independence and stronger powers for the NCHE. He stressed that NCHE should regulate universities, while professional bodies should focus on regulating their respective professions and assessing graduates seeking entry, rather than directly supervising academic institutions.

NCHE has identified four key areas requiring resolution: jurisdictional clarity over institutions and programs, distinguishing TVET from higher education, defining accreditation responsibilities, and clarifying the exercise of powers between NCHE and the TVET Council. The TVET Act of 2025, for example, requires universities to seek accreditation from the TVET Council for diploma and certificate programs, a role also held by NCHE under a different act, creating potential conflict despite previous advice suggesting no overlap.

This situation mirrors challenges faced by Rwanda, which eventually restructured its TVET system to avoid similar educational confusion. Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, the acting Minister of Education, urged stakeholders to implement the new standards with integrity to foster Uganda’s development.